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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 11 · Chapter 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras
11.2.2511.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.2.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 11.2.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Vasudeva

विदेहस्तानभिप्रेत्य नारायणपरायणान् ।

प्रीत: सम्पूजयां चक्रे आसनस्थान् यथार्हत: ॥ २६ ॥

videhas tān abhipretya

nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇān

prītaḥ sampūjayāṁ cakre

āsana-sthān yathārhataḥ

Translation

King Videha [Nimi] understood that the nine sages were exalted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, overjoyed at their auspicious arrival, he offered them suitable sitting places and worshiped them in a proper way, just as one would worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Devotees as the Lord’s Representatives

  1. 1

    Nimi recognized the sages as exalted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Overjoyed by their arrival, he offered seats and worshiped them according to proper Vaiṣṇava etiquette.

  2. 2

    An exalted Vaiṣṇava is fully surrendered to the Lord’s will and serves as His transparent representative. Even a moment’s association with pure devotees can bring all perfection in life.

  3. 3

    Respecting the Lord’s representative does not mean that every living being is equal to God. Knowing Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead leads to full devotional service and sincere respect for His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, as indicated by the word prītaḥ, King Nimi was overjoyed by the auspicious arrival of the sages, and therefore he worshiped them just as one would worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Therefore, exalted devotees such as the nine Yogendras always accept the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as expressed here by the word nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇān.
  • Therefore it is clear from this verse that not only the nine exalted sons of Ṛṣabhadeva but also King Nimi himself were all great devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in defiance of the artificial and limited concept of impersonalism.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.2.26 quotesBG 15.19

Therefore they accept the words of Kṛṣṇa, who states in Bhagavad-gītā (15.19): “Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Foreboding → Devotional urgency. Uddhava realizes that Kṛṣṇa's visible association is nearing an end.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 11: The Yadu curse, the nine Yogendras and farewell signs. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Mahārāja Nimi Meets the Nine Yogendras

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore King Nimi offered the nine Yogendras suitable seats, worshiped them, humbled himself with obeisances and joyfully inquired from them about bhāgavata-dharma. Bhāgavata-dharma, or pure devotional service to the Lord, is the only means of ultimate good fortune for the soul.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. videhaḥNimi Mahārāja
  2. tānthem
  3. abhipretyarecognizing
  4. nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇānas devotees whose only goal was Nārāyaṇa
  5. prītaḥsatisfied
  6. sampūjayām cakrehe fully worshiped them
  7. āsana-sthānwho had been seated
  8. yathā-arhataḥas they deserved
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiped”, “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.2

    In this verse: “surrendered”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my respect for devotees an expression of love for the Lord, rather than a search for personal advantage?

Practice

Offer a devotee a seat or another small act of respectful hospitality, without expecting anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.2's connections

Live this todayRespect Devotees as the Lord’s RepresentativesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 11.2.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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